Great Lakes Wire

MPHI was recently mentioned in an article by the MSU College of Human Medicine’s Dean, Aron Sousa, MD. The article, titled “Faculty Voice: Tackling Gun Violence Without Political Gridlock,” examined the impact of gun violence, public health-based solutions, and the potential of intervention programs like MPHI’s Advance Peace Initiative.

Dr. Sousa shared his personal experiences with gun violence and explained the many circumstances that contribute to gun violence statistics. He proposed that gun violence tends to be very personal and, statistically, is an issue that may impact many of our lives. As such, there is a call for the community to support one another and stand together against firearm-related deaths. This call led Dr. Sousa and his colleagues at MSU, the Association of American Medical Colleges, and the University at Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (Jacobs) to create the Remembrance Conference.

“The conference grew out of conversations the dean of Jacobs, Allison Brashear, MD, MBA and I had at a dean’s meeting of the Association of American Medical Colleges. We started with a faculty and student exchange and the effort has grown into an annual conference that brings national leaders, community members, faculty and students together in remembrance of those we have lost in the goal of preventing more gun violence and death.”

From the tragedy of firearm deaths, the community is encouraged to come together and determine a solution. Discussions like the Remembrance Conference play a crucial role in growing understanding and developing innovative ways to combat gun violence.

“Our conversations with community partners from Buffalo and the speakers and faculty from around the country was profound. And I found discussions on community intervention programs inspiring. We have programs like that in our area too. As an example, Michigan Public Health Institute has a grant partnering with Advance Peace in support of a gun violence intervention program in Lansing.”

Dr. Sousa explained that tackling gun violence through public health and community intervention is a nonpartisan issue. The efforts of projects like Advance Peace are in everyone's best interests as they aim to improve safety across communities.

“Public health interventions help save people from gun deaths and injury, these interventions do not require us to cross old entrenched political fault lines. No one wants more gun deaths or injuries.”

To view the full article visit:

Faculty Voice: Tackling Gun Violence Without Political Gridlock | College of Human Medicine | Michigan State University

For more information visit:

Advance Peace Lansing Ingham